| PEF weighing its options Rally activists speak their minds Story and Photos by DEBORAH A. MILES Additional Photos by JOHN EPTING  Nearly 500 members and supporters attended PEF’s Contract justice rally on March 4 at the State Capitol in Albany. Here’s what they told The Communicator about why they took part in the rally."I’m here to represent my agency as well as nurses across the state who are treated unfairly. The cost of living adjustment is the major issue for us. I wish some of the people living here (upstate) would try to live in the city with the salaries we make. It’s very expensive, and without increases and adjustments, we can’t afford to live there." Darwin Richmond Optician, SUNY Optometry Region 12, Division 225 |
 "I’m here because we have been working as PEF-represented employees with no contract. It doesn’t appear the governor’s people are willing to negotiate with us. And we deserve a raise. We deserve what all contractors are getting that work for New York State. We deserve some recognition for the state running as well as it does because of the professional employees who serve it."Brenda Grober Economic Development Program Specialist 2 Department of Economic Development Region 8, Division 262 |
 "We don’t have a contract. We haven’t had a raise since last year. Everyone is stagnant and I’m worried about our health insurance. The sentiment among members in my division is they want a contract and they are mad." Phil Peller Senior Statistician Workers Compensation Board Region 8, Division 363 |
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 "I’m here to lobby for a fair and just contract for public service employees. They are public servants who dedicate their lives to serving the citizens of the state. The main issue for me is the maintenance of health care benefits and fair percentage increases in every year of the contract. We have more than 800 PEF members in my agency — in New York City, Albany and the field office. They have been signing the pledges and also pledging on the Internet, which has worked out to be very convenient for members who are scattered across the upstate region."Craig Speers Senior Examiner Municipal Affairs Department of Audit and Control Region 1, Division 263 |
"We are angry GOER has tried to cheat us by offering zeroes and 1.5 percent wage increases. We are here because the state failed to negotiate in earnest."
Communicator Homepage April 04
Inside This Issue
Features
Contract rally sizzles
Rally activists speak their minds
PEF weighing its options
Keep Fulton Corrections open
Camp McGregor’s fate depends...
Lawmakers save Middletown Psych
PEF helps elect Fields to office
Changing the world, one cow at a time
Departments
President's Message
Member's Mailbag
Nurses' Station
Retirees In Action
Members' Highlights
Back Cover Ad
PEF Membership Benefits &Travel
Union Matters
Union halts layoffs at OCF
Judge backs nurses right to back pay
Member keeps lifesaving blood flowing
Deadline nears for OT meal allowance
PEF sending first heroes into national...
Labor community helps state
workers
Grant walks the walk
Reg. 1 member running to retire
Candidates sought for E. Board
Join PEF Hispanic Committee at Somos
2004 Convention Delegate Info
Save these
dates:
April 21-25
Somos El Futuro!
The annual weekend conference in Albany of the Caucus of NYS Hispanic and Puerto
Rican Legislators
For more information, to volunteer, or make reservations for the reception, call
Helen Brooks at the PEF Legislative Office, 1-800-724-4997.
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